Joe Morton,
Darryl Edwards,
Steve James,
Leonard Jackson,
Bill Cobbs
... see more 
Filmmaker John Sayles' first bonafide box-office success, Brother from Another Planet centers on a black escaped slave from a faraway planet (Joe Morton) who finds himself on the mean streets Harlem. ... read more
DVD Release Date: October 25, 2003
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Stats: 224 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (224)
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April 1, 2011I liked it better than Starman. It wobbles a bit at the end, but overall it's both solidly funny and interesting.
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January 16, 2011This movie is like a combination of a 70s drug story drama, an early 60s sci-fi movie, and an 80s independent film. I didn't know what to make of it, and I wouldn't recommend it unless that weird description I just gave interests you.
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November 9, 2011Many will be discouraged to watch Brother From Another Planet simply because of the movie's premise and title. I'll admit that it doesn't exactly sound interesting, but if you're a fan of John Sayles, this is sure to be a delight.
The Brother (the silent lead character played by... read more -
November 29, 2011"Brother From Another Planet" is not an important film or one that should even be sought out. But it's clever, well-made, and well-written, and if you have the time to watch a good movie, you've got my recommendation.
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September 7, 2011After I watched this movie, I looked it up online and was *shocked* to see it got a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, since my film major roommate and I were both very, very unimpressed with it. Everything about it said crappy movie, from the unfunny jokes to the bizarre jarring transition... read more
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July 7, 2008It was a decent movie. I just saw this movie. I cant believe I just saw young looking joe morton with dreads.lol But the movie is decent once you get in to it. I never heard of it till it came out tv late at night one day.
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February 17, 2008A very different kind of sci fi movie that is kind of dated. Joe Morton(Smallville and Eureka) gives an amazing performance as the main character and he does it all without uttering a line. Not one word. Bill Cobbs is also excellent in a small supporting role as he was very fu... read more
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January 7, 2008For what it is, it's well made. Put together on a very small budget, a classic really was born out of this one. And Joe Morton acting without speaking the whole time? Great performance. Loved the scenes at the pre-refurbished Ellis Island.
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December 9, 2007A unique blend of racial commentary and immigrant fable from John Sayles. Joe Morton's worldess performance carries an awful lot of weight.
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July 27, 2007This one was out on the fringe in the 80s and still feels it now. Notice the dating with the video games...only slows down a bit because of the "moral tale attached to it.
Critic Reviews
June 4, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
June 4, 2007
Variety
A vastly amusing but progressively erratic look at the Harlem adventures of an alien, a black E.T. Full Review
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie finds countless opportunities for humorous scenes, most of them with a quiet little bite, a way of causing us to look at our society. Full Review
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times
It's a nice, unsurprising shaggy-dog story that goes on far too long. Full Review
December 31, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Quirky urban spaceman comedy, that's only moderately funny and observant. Full Review
June 4, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Buoyed by Morton's sensitive performance, the film proceeds as a series of vignettes, some of them unforgettable. Full Review
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Central to the film's deft balancing act between shaggy dog humour and something just a little more serious is Morton's expressive performance as the alien, though the rest of the cast also plays admi... Full Review
May 7, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A talk-heavy script about racial prejudice and other ills through the eyes of a mute black alien, terrifically played by John Sayles' regular Joe Morton. Full Review
December 6, 2005
Bob Westal, Film Threat
It may not be the perfect John Sayles film, the perfect science fiction movie or the perfect film about black life --- but it manages to seamlessly mix wit, slapstick, poignancy and politics. Full Review
August 31, 2004
Rumsey Taylor, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
The principle character is an embellished creation, and serves to exaggerate peoples' intolerance - fundamentally, he is the most removed of Sayles' characters. Full Review
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Brother From Another Planet
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